U.S. patent number 4,686,643 [Application Number 06/750,986] was granted by the patent office on 1987-08-11 for electronic equipment selectively storing a frequently used conversion function.
Invention is credited to Junichi Ishiwata.
United States Patent |
4,686,643 |
Ishiwata |
August 11, 1987 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Electronic equipment selectively storing a frequently used
conversion function
Abstract
An electronic desk-top calculator with a unit conversion
function comprises an input key for inputting a type of unit
conversion, an execution unit for executing unit conversion, a
first memory for storing a conversion rate for the unit conversion
and a second memory for storing the type of unit conversion. The
execution unit carries out the unit conversion based on the
conversion rate stored in the first memory and the type of unit
conversion stored in the second memory.
Inventors: |
Ishiwata; Junichi (Shimomaruko,
Ohta-ku, Tokyo, JP) |
Family
ID: |
15418870 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/750,986 |
Filed: |
July 1, 1985 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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416053 |
Sep 8, 1982 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Sep 16, 1981 [JP] |
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56-146934 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
708/206;
341/106 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
15/0258 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
15/02 (20060101); G06F 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;364/715,709
;235/310 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Malzahn; David H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper &
Scinto
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 416,053,
filed Sept. 8, 1982, now abandoned.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. Electronic equipment with a unit conversion function,
comprising:
input means having key means for selectively inputting a type of
unit conversion and numerical information;
first memory means for storing a conversion rate for the type of
unit conversion input by said input means;
second memory means for storing a type of unit conversion input by
said input means;
conversion memory set means for loading the type of unit conversion
input by said input means in said second memory means; and
instruction means, responsive to actuation of said key means and in
cooperation with said first and second memory means, for repeatedly
executing the type of unit conversion stored in said second memory
means on numerical information repeatedly input by said input means
on the basis of the conversion rate stored in said first memory
means when said conversion memory set means has stored a type of
unit conversion in said second memory means from a previously
executed conversion and the conversion rate stored in said first
memory means.
2. Electronic equipment with a unit conversion function according
to claim 1 further comprising means for clearing the type of unit
conversion stored in said second memory means.
3. Electronic equipment with a unit conversion function according
to claim 1 further including means for replacing the type of unit
conversion stored in said second memory means with another type of
unit converion.
4. Electronic equipment with a unit conversion function according
to claim 1 further comprising indication means for indicating when
a type of unit conversion is stored in said second memory
means.
5. Electronic equipment with a unit conversion function according
to claim 1 wherein said second memory means includes a memory for
storing information representing different types of unit
conversion.
6. Electronic equipment with a unit conversion function,
comprising:
first memory means for storing various conversion rates for unit
conversion;
input means having key means for specifying a direction of unit
conversion and means for inputting numerical information;
second memory means for storing a type of unit conversion; and
means responsive to actuation of said key means for executing unit
conversion of numerical information input by said means for
inputting by referring to the direction of unit conversion
specified by said key means, the type of unit conversion stored in
said second memory means from a previously executed unit conversion
and a conversion rate stored in said first memory means.
7. Electronic equipment with a unit conversion function according
to claim 6 wherein said second memory means is a readable/writable
memory.
8. Electronic equipment with a unit conversion function,
comprising:
input means having key means for selectively inputting a type of
unit conversion and numerical information;
first memory means for storing a conversion rate for the type of
unit conversion input by said input means, wherein said first
memory means is a read-only memory;
second memory means for storing a type of unit conversion input by
said input means, wherein said second memory means is a
readable/writable memory;
conversion memory set means for loading the type of unit conversion
input by said input means in said second memory means; and
instruction means, responsive to actuation of said key means and in
cooperation with said first and second memory means, for repeatedly
executing the type of unit conversion stored in said second memory
means on numerical information repeatedly input by said input means
on the basis of the conversion rate stored in said first memory
means when said conversion memory set means has stored a type of
unit conversion in said memory means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement in an electronic
desk-top calculator having a unit conversion function, and more
particularly to an electronic desk-top calculator with a unit
conversion function (hereinafter referred to as a unit conversion
desk-top calculator)which selects a type of conversion having a
highest frequency of usage from a plurality of types of conversion
and stores it so that the conversion in accordance with the stored
type of conversion is carried out by merely actuating a key for
specifying a direction of conversion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 shows an external view of a prior art unit conversion
desk-top calculator. Numeric data is entered by numeric keys on a
keyboard 3 and calculated by instructions entered by operation
instruction keys. A conversion direction specifying key 4 or 5 is
depressed to specify the direction of conversion, rightward or
leftward, that is, from the foot/pound system to the metric system
or vice versa in the example shown in FIG. 1. Then, a desired type
of conversion is selected by depressing one of conversion keys 6,
which also serve as the numeric keys or the function keys, to carry
out the desired conversion. For example in order to convert 2
inches to centimeters the prior art unit conversion desk-top
calculator needs the following keying operations.
FIG. 3A shows the keying sequence. In a step 1, a numerical value
"2" to be converted is entered. It represents 2 inches and it is to
be converted to centimeters. In a step 2, the right conversion key
".fwdarw." is depressed to specify the conversion from the
foot/pound system to the metric system. Since the conversion
desired is the inch to cm conversion, a numeric key 7 is depressed
in the step 3.
As a result, an arithmetic operation control circuit in a main body
carries out a multiplication operation to multiply the entered
numerical value by 2.54 which is the conversion rate for the inch
to cm conversion (1 inch=2.54 cm) under the control of a program
stored in a ROM and display a result 5.08.
In this manner, the inch to cm unit conversion process is carried
out. As shown in the steps following step 3 of FIG. 3A, when only
the numerical value to be converted is changed, for example, when 3
inches is to be converted to centimeters, numerical value "3" is
entered in a step 4, the right conversion key ".fwdarw." is
depressed in a step 5 and the key 7 is depressed in a step 6. Thus,
the entered numerical value "3" is multiplied by 2.54 and a result
7.62 is displayed, in the same manner as the steps 1 to 3. When it
is desired to convert 2.54 cm to inches, that is, an opposite
direction convertion is desired, a numerical value "2.54" is
entered in a step 7, a left conversion key ".rarw." is depressed in
a step 8 and the key 7 which is the inch to cm conversion key is
depressed in a step 9. Thus, the arithmetic operation control
circuit issues an instruction to divide the entered numerical value
by the conversion rate 2.54 and displays a result 1. In a step 10,
an ordinary multiplication operation of 2.times.3=6 is carried out.
In steps 11-13 and steps 14-16, 4 inches and 5 inches,
respectively, are converted to centimeters.
As seen from FIG. 3A, in the prior art keying sequence, three steps
of keying, that is, entering of the numerical value, specification
of the conversion direction and specification of the type of
conversion are needed for each conversion operation. When an
operator repeatedly carries out the conversion operation of the
same type, the same keying sequence must be repeated. Consequently,
the efficiency of operation is very poor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic
equipment with a unit conversion function which can reduce the
number of keying operations.
It is another object of the present invention to provide electronic
equipment with a unit conversion function which stores a type of
conversion and carries out the unit conversion operation by
referring to the stored type of conversion.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide
electronic equipment with a unit conversion function which, when
the same type of conversion is to be repeatedly carried out, stores
the type of conversion at the first conversion operation and
carries out the subsequent conversion operations in accoardance
with the keying operations of the conversion direction specifying
keys until the stored type of conversion operation is cleared so
that the keying operations are simplified and the operability is
improved.
The other objects of the present invention will be apparent from
the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows an external view of a prior art unit conversion
desk-top calculator;
FIG. 2 shows an external view of one embodiment of a unit
conversion desk-top calculator of the present invention;
FIG. 3A shows an operation sequence of the prior art desk-top
calculator;
FIGS. 3B and 3C show operation sequences of the desk-top calculator
of the present invention;
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a configuration of the desk-top
calculator of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of the present
invention; and
FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D show flow charts for explaining the
operation of the other embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 2 shows an external view of one embodiment of a unit
conversion desk-top calculator of the present invention, and FIG. 4
shows a block diagram of a configuration thereof. The basic
operation system and the conversion keys are identical to those of
the prior art unit conversion desk-top calculator shown in FIG. 1.
A conversion memory set key (CS) 23, a conversion memory reset key
(CR) 24 and a conversion memory mode display mark 25 on a display
12 are newly added. Specific operations and display status are
shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C with respect to the keying operations.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, a configuration of the one embodiment
of the present invention is explained. Numeral 11 denotes a main
body of the unit conversion desk-top calculator. Numeral 12 denotes
a display which displays entered data, an operation result and a
symbol representing unit conversion information. Numeral 13 denotes
a keyboard having keys arranged as shown. Numerals 14 and 15 denote
keys for specifying the directions of conversion. Numeral 16
denotes a key which can instruct one of two input operations
selected by the depression or non-depression of the key 14 or 15.
The keys 23 and 24 control the store of the information on the unit
conversion as described above. Numeral 25 denotes the symbol
described above.
A circuit which is operated by the actuation of the keys on the
keyboard 13 is now explained. FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the
circuit. Numeral 12 denotes the display 12 described above and
numeral 13 denotes the keyboard 13 described above. Numerals 16, 23
and 24 correspond to the keys 16, 23 and 24 shown in FIG. 2.
Numeral 17 denotes an arithmetic operation control circuit which
executes a program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) to process
the data and control the operation. Numeral 18 denotes the ROM
descirbed above which stores the program to carry out a sequence to
be described later. Numeral 19 denotes a numerical data memory
which stores a numerical value entered from the keyboard 13, the
conversion information and a signal representing the symbol 25.
Numeral 20 denotes a decoder driver which decodes a content read
from the numerical data memory 19 to display it on the display
12.
The operation of the present embodiment is now explained.
The numerical data and the operation instruction entered by the
keyboard 13 are processed by the arithmetic operation control
circuit 21 in accordance with the program stored in the ROM 18 and
an operation result is stored in the numerical data memory 19 and
supplied to the display 12 through the display driver 20 to inform
the numerical data to an operator. The input numerical value or the
operation result is multiplied by or divided by a conversion rate
stored in the ROM 18 to produce a converted result.
When the operator wants to repeatedly carry out the inch to
centimeter conversion, for example, when the calculations shown in
FIG. 3A are to be carried out by the unit conversion desk-top
calculator of the present invention, it is carried out as shown in
FIG. 3B. In step 1, a numerical value "2" is entered, and the right
conversion is specified by depressing the right conversion key 14
in step 14. In step 3, the conversion memory set key 23 of the
present invention is depressed. CS is set as a back key of a key "%
.+-." by the key 14 or 15. By depressing the key 23, the type of
conversion specified by subsequently depressing one of the
conversion keys, the inch to centimeter key to be depressed in step
4 in the example FIG. 3B, is stored in the numerical data memory 19
of FIG. 4. The symbol "C" of the conversion memory mode display
symbol 25 is stored in the numerical data memory 19 and displayed
on the display 12. The symbol "C" is held until the conversion
memory is reset. The left conversion specifying key 15 may be
depressed in step 2. In step 5, a numerical value "3" is entered,
and the right conversion specifying key ".fwdarw." is depressed in
a step 6. Thus, the arithmetic operation control circuit 17
instructs to carry out the inch to centimeter conversion stored in
the numeric data memory 19 in the right direction, that is, inch to
centimeter conversion, and reads out a conversion rate 2.54 from
the ROM and multiplies the entered numeric data "3" by 2.54 to
produce a product 7.62. This operation is carried out because the
input CS is stored. In step 7, a numerical value "2.54" is entered
and the left conversion specifying key ".rarw." 15 is depressed in
step 8 to specify centimeter to inch conversion. Thus, the
arithmetic operation control circuit 17 instructs to carry out the
inch to centimeter conversion stored in the numerical data memory
19 in the left direction, that is, centimeter to inch conversion
and divides the entered numerical value "2.54" by the conversion
rate 2.54 to produce a quotient 1. In step 9, an ordinary
calculation is carried out. In step 10, a numerical value "4" is
entered, and the right conversion key ".fwdarw." is depressed in
step 11. Thus, the operation of 4.times.2.54 is carried out and the
product 10.16 is displayed. In step 12, a numerical value "5" is
entered, and the right conversion key ".fwdarw." is depressed in
step 13. Thus, the operation of 5.times.2.54 is carried out and the
product 12.7 is displayed.
FIG. 3C shows a sequence for releasing the conversion memory mode.
In step 1, the key "CI/C" is depressed, in step 2, the conversion
direction specifying key ".fwdarw." 14 is depressed, and in step 3,
the conversion memory reset key 24 is depressed. Thus, the memory
is cleared and the conversion memory mode display disappears to
release the conversion memory. As a result, an ordinary mode is
restored in steps 4 to 6 to permit another conversion
operation.
In accordance with the present invention, when the same type of
conversion operation is to be repeatedly carried out, the
conversion memory mode is set so that the subsequent conversion
operations can be carried out with one step less than the sequence
of the prior art unit conversion desk-top calculator, and the
operations are carried out in a one-touch manner after entering the
numeric value. When the conversion operation is carried out five
times as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, three keying operation can be
saved, and when the same type of conversion operation is repeatedly
carried out a greater number of times, the number of keying
operations is reduced approximately 2/3 to compared with the
sequence of a prior art desk-top calculator. Accordingly, the
conversion operation can be carried out in a very efficient
manner.
In a memory hold type desk-top calculator in which the data in the
numerical memory 9 is held after a power is turned off by a
touch-key type key "OFF" shown in FIG. 2, the function is held
after the power-off. Thus, when the conversion memory mode is set,
the desk-top calculator can be used as a specific unit conversion
desk-top calculator if an operator needs only one type of
conversion.
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of the present
invention. The like elements to those of the first embodiment are
designated by like numerals, and only different elements are
designated by new numerals. Numeral 26 denotes a flag register
having flags CSF, AF, SF and NF. CSF is a conversion flag which is
set to "1" when CS is entered from the key 23 and reset to "0" when
CR is entered from the key 24. AF is a direction flag which stores
information (which may be a key code) representing the depressed
one of the direction keys 14 and 15. SF is a second flag which
indicates instruction to be entered when the key 16 is depressed.
When SF is "1", the unit conversion CS or CR is entered, and when
SF is "0" other instruction is entered. The flag SF may be
substituted by the flag AF. NF is a numeric flag which is set when
the numeric key is depressed. The ROM 18 stores a control sequence
as shown in FIG. 6.
The operation of this embodiment is as follows.
When the power is turned on, the following control sequence is
executed by the program stored in the ROM 18.
Referring to FIG. 6A, the arithmetic operation control circuit 17
checks if the key has been depressed in step A1. If the decision is
NO, the process goes to step A2 where the data to be displayed
stored in the numerical data memory 19 is supplied to the display
12 through the decoder driver 20 to display it. If the decision in
the step A1 is YES, the control circuit 17 determines the
particular key depressed. If it is the numeric key, the numerical
value is stored in the numerical data memory 19 and the numeric
flag NF is set to "1". It is assumed that the flag SF is "0" at
this step. When the key 14 is depressed as shown in step 2 of FIG.
3B, the flag NF is checked in step B1 of FIG. 6B. Since the
decision is YES, the flag CSF is checked in step B2. The decision
is NO and the process goes to step B3 where it is checked if the
key 14 has been depressed. Since the decision is YES, the process
goes to step B4 where ".fwdarw." is set in the flag AF. If the
decision is NO, ".rarw." is set in the flag AF in step B5. Then,
the process goes to step B6 where the flag SF is set to "1" and the
process of FIG. 6A is carried out.
When the key "% .+-." (CS) 23 is depressed in step 3 of FIG. 3B, a
control sequence shown in FIG. 6C is executed. It is carried out
through FIG. 6A. In step C1, the set status of the flag AF is
checked. Since it is set in the present example, the decision is
YES and the process goes to step C2 where it is checked if the key
23 has been depressed. Since the decision is YES, the process goes
to step C3 where the flag CSF is set to "1". Then, the process of
FIG. 6A is executed. When the keying operation of step 4 in FIG. 3B
is carried out, the process is shifted to FIG. 6D through FIG. 6A
and steps D1 and D2 are carried out. Since CSF is "1", the process
goes to a step D3 where inch to centimeter information is stored in
the numerical data memory 19. Then, in a step D4, the unit
conversion operation is carried out and in a step D5, the flags SF,
NF and AF are reset to "0" and the process is shifted to FIG. 6A.
When the keying operations of steps 5 and 6 of FIG. 3B are carried
out, the input data are processed in the manner described above.
When the keying operations of steps 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are then
carried out to convert 1 foot to meters as shown in steps 4 through
6 of FIG. 3C, the following sequence is carried out.
The decision in step B1 of FIG. 6B is NO because of the keying
operation of step 2 in FIG. 3C. Thus, the process jumps to step B3.
Since the key 14 has been depressed the corresponding information
is set in the flag AF in step B4. Then, the flag SF is set to "1"
in step B6. When the key 24 is then depressed, the process goes
through steps C1, C2 and C4 to step C5 where the flags CSF and SF
are reset to "0".
When the numeric key is next depressed, the flag NF is set to "1"
and the numerical value is stored in the numerical data memory 19.
When the key 14 is then depressed, the process goes through steps
B1, B2, B3, B4 and B6 of FIG. 6B to FIG. 6A. When the "8" key is
depressed, indicating conversion from feet to meters, in step 8,
the process is shifted from FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D and goes through the
steps D1 and D2 to the step D6 where the data 1 is processed based
on the type of conversion entered from the key, the direction of
conversion entered from the key 14 and the conversion rate read
from the ROM 18 to produce a result 0.303. In step D5, the flags
AF, NF and SF are reset to "0" and the process returns to FIG.
6A.
* * * * *